Haryana’s Lokayukta, Justice (retd.) Pritam Pal, expressed disappointment with the Haryana government for “diluting the action” recommended by him against officials in many of the cases he has dealt with so far.
Speaking exclusively to The Hindu , Justice Pal said since his office does not have punitive powers and the Lokayukta can only make recommendations, he can do very little.
When he joined in 2011, Justice Pal said, there was no work at all for him because no one had made complaints and he himself was not permitted to take up suo motu cases.
“I then visited all the districts, met bar associations, activists and officers and urged them to inform me about corruption in their areas. Till December 31, I have received some 2,500 complaints of which I have disposed off 1,600 cases, most of which are petty in nature.”
He said that the politically high-profile cases began coming to him only in the recent past.
He said he had been repeatedly writing to the government to increase the Lokayukta’s powers, but to no avail.
